A Very Disgruntled Employee...

[Sue U]

Brilliant response.

[Lord Jim]

Comments like this:

They are whores of evil.

Invite jokes, not serious discussion...

If you want to have a serious discussion on the topic, then perhaps you should direct your displeasure towards the person who derails it with this sort of silly ad hominem nonsense...

[wesw]

grog not need brilliant response.

GROG HAVE GUN!!!!!!

grog like gun. grog keep gun.

mmmm. woman.....

grog like woman.

woman like grog?

[Lord Jim]

Personally, I'm a fan of grog...

By which I assume you mean the rum served on pirate ships?

[wesw]

grog kneeandertall. Grog not rum.

not make fun of grog. grog no like.

GROG HAVE GUN!!!!!!!!

[Big RR]

Sue--I haven't done a search, but as I recall citizens of Norway pretty much have a right to own guns as hunting and sport shooting are major recreations. Most Norwegians I worked with owned an assortment of rifles/long guns and handguns and said these were easily acquired (and they lived with an hour of Oslo). Further north, residents were required/encouraged (I'm not sure which) to cary high powered rifles for protections against polar bears (and even tourists could rent them).

eta: And FWIW, Norway has a much lower murder/violent crime rate than the US, and no death penalty, a much lower incarceration rate, and lower sentencing for even violent crimes as compared to the US. Not sure of the recidivism rate, but I would doubt it's as high in the US.

[Sue U]

In fact, there is no "right" to gun ownership in Norway and it has some of the strictest gun regulations in the world, which could never pass constitutional muster in the U.S.:

A licence is required to own a gun, and the owner must provide a written statement saying why he or she wants one. Many categories of guns, including automatics and some powerful handguns, are banned from sale altogether.

Hunting and outdoor sports are popular in Norway. But the laws are strict in these areas, too. Shotguns and rifles must be stored in a secure place, typically a specially designed gun safe, as must ammunition. Police have the right to inspect an owner's home to ensure the law is being followed.

Transporting a weapon to a public place is also covered by legislation. The owner must have a good reason for carrying a weapon, must ensure it is unloaded and concealed from view, but not worn on the body, and must keep the weapon under constant supervision.

Under the Firearm Weapons Act, only "sober and responsible" persons over the age of 18 may obtain a gun licence. For handguns, the age requirement is 21. In 2009, additional legislation was introduced, further tightening Norway's gun laws.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/j ... rcumvented

But this is precisely the point. Even without a "right" of gun ownership, and even with very strict regulation, guns can still be owned and used as necessary and appropriate.

[Big RR]

Sue--what part of that would not pass Constitutional muster? It seems a lot like the law in NY and NJ--you need a license (firearms ID) to buy any weapons (usually tougher for handguns--NJ requires separate permits for each); transport is also covered in most states. certain guns, such as automatic weapons, are also banned in the US except for certain vintage models with permits (and collectors in Norway can get special permits to own them as well); not sure what handguns are banned in Norway so I cannot draw a US comparison. But the point, as I understand it, is that in Norway if you go in and say you want a gun for hunting or sport shooting, you can get it unless there is something in your background that would prevent you from owning one (like, say, mental illness or history of violent crimes), much like in many states. Yes, they don't have a constitutional provision that guarantees a right to bear arms, but the public recognizes such ownership as a right, whether they call the firearms ID a license or not.

but my point was that in Norway gun ownership is high, and violent crime is not. Something else is afoot in the US.